Research Papers/Topics in Horticulture
Genotype × Environment Interaction Studies On The Performance, Adaptability And Stability Of Pre- Release Flue-Cured Tobacco Hybrid Lines In Zimbabwe
ABSTRACT The nature and magnitude of the genotype × environment interactions is important to identify superior and stable genotypes under target environments. This will assist to maximize specific adaptation and to speed up the distribution of new cultivars to growers. Eleven prerelease flue cured tobacco hybrid lines were evaluated for yield and quality in four different tobacco growing regions thus, Kutsaga and Rusape representing the slow growing areas, Trelawney representing the...
Agro-Morphological And Nutritional Characterization Of Horned Melon Accessions From Selected Agro-Ecological Zones In Kenya.
ABSTRACTAfrican horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus) is an indigenous crop belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. The crop has been neglected despite its high potential. Therefore, to conserve the biodiversity of this crop, there is need to promote its domestication and production. However, this can only be realized if its morphology, agronomic and nutritional value is understood. The objective of this study was to determine the agro-morphological performance and nutritional composition of horn...
Agro-Morphological And Nutritional Characterization Of Horned Melon Accessions From Selected Agro-Ecological Zones In Kenya
ABSTRACTAfrican horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus) is an indigenous crop belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. The crop has been neglected despite its high potential. Therefore, to conserve the biodiversity of this crop, there is need to promote its domestication and production. However, this can only be realized if its morphology, agronomic and nutritional value is understood. The objective of this study was to determine the agro-morphological performance and nutritional composition of horn...
Variations In Yields And Yield Components With Geographical Location And Response Of Clonal Tea (Camellia Sinensis) To Nitrogenous Fertiliser Rates In Kenya
ABSTRACTTea provides income and employment to rural populations in many countries. Tea, grown in eastand west of the Rift Valley, is the leading export commodity crop in Kenya. Variable responsesamong genotypes to different environments and fertilizer influence growth, productivity, leafnutrients, and quality. However, husbandry practices are uniform in all tea growing regions.These recommendations may not be optimum universally. Genotypes planted and managementpractices may therefore not giv...
Farmers Information Literacy And Awareness Towards Agricultural Produce And Food Security: FADAMA III Programs In Osun State Nigeria
Abstract: Agriculture remains the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, because it does not only contribute to the largest share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it is the largest employer of labour and a key contributor to wealth creation and poverty alleviation, as large percentage of the population derive their income from agriculture and related activities . Agricultural sector is the backbone of many economies in Africa, but most African countries are yet to devote their efforts to the ...
EVALUATION OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGAL ISOLATE(S) FOR MANAGEMENT OF MELON FRUIT FLY (Zeugodacus Cucurbitae) (Coquillette)
ABSTRACTThe melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), is a serious pest of cucurbits, tree fruits and related crops in most continents of the world, including Africa. To manage the pest, most farmers in sub-Saharan Africa rely on synthetic chemicals which have detrimental effects to the environment and the habitat. Excessive use of chemicals may also lead to development of pest resistance and Z. cucurbitae has reportedly shown the most increased resistance to the used insecticides. For s...
Effect Of Nitrogen Sources On Nitrous Oxide Emission, Maize (Zea Mays L) Yield And Nitrogen Use Efficiency In Western Kenya
ABSTRACTNitrogen deficiency is a major limiting factor for maize production in western Kenya, therefore, nitrogen fertilizer inputs are required to increase yields in the region. However, most resource poor farmers use low rates of inorganic fertilizers leading to low maize yields. While high rates of inorganic fertilizer application may increase yields, they are however associated with low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the environment. Cattle manure...
SCREENING FOR DISEASE AND ROOTKNOT (Meloidogyne Javanica) RESISTANCE ON LOCAL TOBACCO LANDRACES (Nicotiana Tabacum L.)
ABSTRACTThirty local tobacco landraces collected from non-traditional tobacco belt of Zimbabwe, such as Binga, Mutoko and Masvingo were screened for resistance against Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), Potato Virus Y (PVY) and rootknot nematodes (RKN). The thrust of the study was to assess the level of resistance of the landraces to these major diseases of economic importance in tobacco. A standard flue cured tobacco (FCT) variety KE1, which is susceptible to all tobacco diseases was used as a posi...
Analysis of phenolic compounds in Carica papaya, Zingiber officinale, Ipomoea batatas and Myrothamnus flabellifolius using RP-HPLC-UV/VIS-DAD, and in vitro evaluation of antifungal activity o
ABSTRACTAgricultural pesticides use is rising in crop protection against plant invaders of which fungi arechief in reducing both yield quantity and quality. Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani,Macrophomina phaseolina and Alternaria alternata are polyphagous fungi of economicimportance with severe yield and quality losses worldwide. Environmental concerns on pesticideuse and their resistance now on a worldwide scale. Extensive studies of plant secondarymetabolites have not exhausted their pot...
EFFECT OF CUTTING POSITION AND VINE PRUNING LEVEL ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea Batatas L.).
ABSTRACTThere is yawning variation in yield of storage roots and vines of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) among farmers due to the use of different cutting positions and pruning of vines at different levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the cutting position and the vine pruning level that give the highest yield of both the storage roots and vines. Determination of storage root length, central storage root diameter, storage root weight and vine weight among different cuttin...
The influence of spacing and plant age at first harvest on the growth, development, and yield of three roselle (hibiscus sabdariffa l.) Cultivars
ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted to examine optimum plant population and compare yields of three local roselle cultivars; namely Bihi, Mogla 1 and Mogla 2 planted at four different spacings and harvesting at 31 days after planting by pruning the plant at 13.0 cm high. Subsequent harvesting of shoots was done at fortnightly intervals. The spacings were; 30cm x 30cm, 30cmx 35cm, 30cm x 40cm, and 30cm x 45cm. A pot experiment was also carried out to determine the appropriate plant...
Yield, Nutritional Quality And Heavy Metals Toxicity In Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdarrifa L.) And Jute Mallow (Corchorus Olitorius L.) Crops As Affected By Two Commercial Composts And Chicken Manu
ABSTRACTField and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of different compost formulations on yield, nutrient status, and possible heavy metal toxicity in roselle (Hibiscus sabdarrifa L.) and jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.). The vegetable crops were cultivated on an upland field (Latitude 09o 25ꞌꞌ N, Longitude 00o 58 ꞌꞌ W) with an Altitude of 183 m above sea level consisting of the Kpalsawgu soil series, located at Changnaayili in the Northern Region of Gha...
Sweet Potato [Ipomoea Batatas (L) Lam] Root Quality: Assessment Of Packaging Containers For Transport In Ghana
ABSTRACT Sweet potato root packaging and transport are very important value chain activities in the marketing of the fresh produce. This study investigated the sweet potato storage root packaging and transportation from aggregation centres to urban markets in Ghana. A structured questionnaire was administered to sweet potato root aggregators at Bawku (Upper East regions) and Afram Plains (Eastern region). A follow-up transport experiment was conducted to compare two proposed containe...
Growth, Yield And Fruit Quality Of Select Vegetables (Tomato, Green Pepper And Garden Eggs) As Affected By “Asase Gyefo” Premium Organic Fertilizer
ABSTRACT Declining soil fertility has been found to be the main cause of reduction in crop yields. These soils lose their fertility through erosion, leaching and crop removal. Organic fertilizers prepared from human waste has been found to have a greater potential of being used to manage soil fertility and hence increase crop yields. The present study is to determine the nutrients content and effect of Asase Gyefo Organic Fertilizer (AGOF) prepared from human waste on the growth, yie...
EFFECTS OF SOIL AMENDMENTS ON POSTHARVEST QUALITY OKRA FRUITS
ABSTRACTIn Nigeria farmers apply fertilizers arbitrarily without considering the resultant effect on soil and the postharvest quality of crops. This study was therefore designed to investigate the effects of NPK fertilizer 20:10:10 on the postharvest quality of okra fruit (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moen). Okra seeds NHE-47 were sown in the field at the National Institute of Horticultural Research (NIHORT), Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Nigeria at a spacing of 50 cm x 25 cm. The fertilizer NPK 20-10-10 a...